Happy! – Feb 17 (A.B. 'Banjo' Paterson)

Subject: Happy! – Feb 17 (A.B. Paterson)
From: Abby Sale
Date: 17 Feb 06 - 08:25 AM


Happy Birthday!

Andrew Barton "Banjo" Paterson

was born at Narambla, in New South Wales,

17 February 1864
(d. 5 Feb 1941)

He became a lawyer but devoted his time to journalism and writing, especially poetry and ballads. He's best known for "The Man from Snowy River" (1892) and some minor songs.

His choice of pseudonym came from his abiding preoccupation -- "The Banjo" was a race-horse.

Had a nice write-up in National Geographic a few months ago.

See Project Guttenberg page: Rio Grande's Last Race & Other VersesClicky

Subject: RE: Happy! – Feb 17 (A.B. 'Banjo' Paterson)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Feb 22 - 04:04 PM

I came across a wonderful collection of A.B. 'Banjo' Paterson's prose and poetry:

https://www.telelib.com/authors/P/PatersonAB_Banjo/index.html

Subject: RE: Happy! – Feb 17 (A.B. 'Banjo' Paterson)
From: GerryM
Date: 20 Feb 22 - 01:33 AM

"He's best known for "The Man from Snowy River" (1892) and some minor songs."

I wonder whether Abby was kidding. Paterson is best known for Waltzing Matilda.

Subject: RE: Happy! – Feb 17 (A.B. 'Banjo' Paterson)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Feb 22 - 01:48 AM

Well, Gerry, ""Man" is undoubtedly his best known book...

Subject: RE: Happy! – Feb 17 (A.B. 'Banjo' Paterson)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 20 Feb 22 - 02:59 AM

There was a discussion years ago showing the connection between Robert Tannahill’s song “Thou Bonnie Woods o Craigielea” (music by James Barr) and Waltzing Matilda.

Subject: RE: Happy! – Feb 17 (A.B. 'Banjo' Paterson)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 20 Feb 22 - 04:06 AM

Waltzing Matilda/Thou Bonnie Wood of Craigielea

Waltzing Matilda: The Secret History of Australia's Favourite Song, by Dennis O'Keeffe In Waltzing Matilda: The Secret History of Australia’s Favourite Song, singer/songwriter Dennis O’Keeffe traces the history of the ballad, including both its writing and setting to music, as well as the events in Australian history which led to its creation. Readers are treated into an insight into the life and times of AB ‘Banjo’ Patterson, and into the politics of the workers movement and socio-economic conditions. Whilst the song is uplifting and often regarded as a harmless ditty, it tells the story of a tumultuous piece of Australian history.